Savings & Loans embark on North American adventure

Beauce, Canada is about as far as possible from the Savings & Loans Cycling Team's Adelaide, Australia headquarters, but that's where the Oceania Continental squad is heading for its North American debut. Team manager Steve Cunningham is taking a five members of the credit union-backed squad to complete a block of racing in North America.

The squad will make its debut alongside some of the power-house teams in North American cycling at the Tour de Beauce, which commences on June 12. Following the Canadian outing, the squad will head south to the might United States of America where it will contest New York's Rochester Twilight Criterium.

"We've set the first half of this year up for this Tour in particular, and will be going into it with confidence," said Cunningham. "This will be a great test for our team, competing internationally against a quality field who are currently in the peak of their season."

Included in the team's roster is Olympic Champion Brett Aitken and Oceania Championship dual silver medallist David Pell.

"If we can get Brett through the Tour in good shape, we'll have a great chance against the American pro teams [in New York]," added Cunningham. "Craig McCartney placed in this event a couple of years ago and will also provide good support and insight."